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THE METAMORPHOSIS OF LOPE de VEGA'S KING PEDRO BY FRANCES EXUM (Madrid: Playor, S.A., 1974. 212 pages) Frances Exum analyses in a special sequence Lope's eight plays on the medieval monarch known as "cruel" and "justiciero" in order to clarify progressive changes in his personality that lead to his downfall. First Exum provides a thorough historical background on Pedro I of Castilla. She shows how Lope adapted information from chronicles and ballards, often with anachronisms, solely to entertain his audience. An appendix supplements this section with an alphabetical list of important individuals and a chronological outline ofhistorical events in the reign of Pedro I. The second chapter on royal and democratic prerogatives contributes to a greater understanding of Pedro's downfall but proves somewhat extraneous to the structure of Exum's analysis. Likewise the last chapter, comparing Lope's more sympathetic treatment of Pedro I to his more critical portrayal of Alfonso VIII, needs tighter linkage to the rest of the study. The material in both chapters could have been incorporated more effectively in the detailed discussion of the plays. The author deals with two works per chapter under headings denoting an evolution in Lope's portrayal of Pedro I. The length of discussion on each play varies from six to thirty-five pages, depending on Pedro's role. Exum periodically compares the king in similar circumstances: in a "ronda," in a hunt scene, as "galán enemorado," as "rey justiciero," and as a man influenced by omens and prophecies. On the whole. Lope is sympathetic to Pedro on human terms, although several plays reveal that, emotionally, he is not fit to rule. Exum's study constitutes an original piece of research on a particularly intriguing facet of Lope's drama. She has succeeded in presenting a well-rounded figure of Pedro I. For future researchers on the topic, Exum provides an extensive bibliography. Stylistically, her work reads smoothly despite a few traces of Spanish influence. Several errata and the absence of some page references slightly mar this book which otherwise makes for worthwhile and pleasant reading. SUSANA HERNANDEZ—ARAICO •SUSANA HERNANDEZ—ARAICO is an associate professor of Spanish at California State Polytechnic University, at Pomona, with a degree from UCLA. Her research is primarily in the fields of Golden Age and Twentieth Century Spanish American Literature. VOL. 34. NO. 1 (WINTER 1980) ...

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